Things to be Thankful For!

How quickly the fall has seemed to breeze on by! Thanksgiving is fast approaching and it is such a beautiful time of year.

This month during classes we were in a Thanksgiving wonderland! We 'painted' what we're thankful for using large body movements, shared a Thanksgiving dinner together, and even danced in a reservation! While spending this month celebrating Thanksgiving the students helped me reflect on and realize all that we have to be thankful for! Here are a couple of examples from class:

"I'm thankful that my Mommy cooks dinner. Daddy only cooks Spaghetti-o's."

"I'm thankful that my sister has her own Buzz Lightyear." Me, "Why's that?" "Because now she doesn't try to put mine in dresses!"

"I'm thankful that I have slippers that keep my toes warm."

"I'm thankful for the Secret Dancing Place." Me, "Fantastic! Why?" "Because I like getting there on an ambulance. Mom never lets me ride in one!"

I learned we can be thankful for EVERYTHING in our lives. Not only friends and family, the arts, and happy memories ... but our favorite Buzz Lightyear toys and the fact that our Mom's cook! As long as it makes us happy, we better be thankful for it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We have had a great start to our year here in Charlotte-Mecklenburg. It is so exciting meeting new faces and getting reacquainted with old ones. As part of our introduction to our classes we have everyone jump up and grab a smile when their name is called and sit back down in pretzel position. Because children are so excited about our classes, they are already wearing a smile before I even arrive. As I was leaving my first class last week, I began thinking. Did I start my day by reaching up and grabbing my smile? Something so simple, but very effective. Sometimes we have so many other things going on in our lives we forget to think about our many blessings and what makes us put on that happy face. I was also reminded of these blessings this past weekend as one of my LPCW students, who is also a close friend, lost everything to a house fire. Forunately they are safe. I will see her in the morning in class, and I hope reaching up to grab a smile will help make her day!! So as you start your day tomorrow, take a little of our LPCW curriculum with you. Think about what puts a smile on your face, and put it on as you leave for the day. We are sending you smiles and good wishes from Charlotte!

Ms. Stephanie